Marking device



Aug. 11, 1959 R. COTTAR MARKINGDEVICE Filed July 25, 1955 INVENTOR .Qobez'i Coziar H United States Patent MARKING DEVICE Robert Cottar, Red Bluff, Calif., asslgn'or m Allen B. Cottar, Yreka, Calif.

Application July 25, 1955,-Serial No. 524,218

ljClaim. (31. 33-189) This invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a novel marking device-in the nature of a templatewhose purpose. is to impress on a wall or ceiling panel, such as Sheetrock, a cutting pattern or outline. The purpose of such pattern or outline is to aid in or guide the subsequent cutting in the panel, to proper shape and in correct position, of an opening which will register with a service member, such as an in-place electrical outlet box, on the wall or ceiling frame structure to, which the panel is to be later secured in a predetermined position. Another important object of this invention is to provide a marking device, as above, which is adapted to be removably mounted on the projecting exposed or front end of the frame structure supported in-place service member, such as an in-place electrical outlet box, where- ,by the unsecured panel when disposed in the predetermined position it will ultimately occupy--will bear, and can be forcefully urged, against the device; the latter including means which then marks the panel with the desired cutting pattern or outline.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a marking device, for the purpose described, which is arranged-in one of its embodiments-to compensate for slight angular misalinement between the service member on the frame structure and the panel as the latter is brought to position immediately adjacent and facing inwardly toward said device for the marking operation.

A separate object of the invention is to provide a marking device which includes novel means for removably securing such device on the service member.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a marking device which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture and simplicity of use; the device being light weight but sturdy, and capable of being readily carried in a workmans tool box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable marking device, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the marking device as mounted on an in-place electrical outlet box; the panelas being marked-being shown in broken lines, and only inpart.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the marking device, detached.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear or back face elevation of a panel showing the cutting pattern or outline as produced thereon by the marking device.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a modification of the device as removably mounted on an in-place electrical outlet box for use.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, and at 2,898,688 Patented Aug. 11 1959 "ice present to the embodiment of Figs. 1-3, the device is especially designed for use on an in-place electrical outlet box 1, and includes a flat face or template plate 2 of a size and configuration to matchingly bear against the open end of said outlet box 1.

The outlet box 1, as is common practice, is secured by nails or screws 3 to one side of a stud 4 included in the frame structure to which a wall or ceiling panel '5 is to be secured in a predetermined position; the outer end portion of the box 1 projecting a short distance outwardly of said stud. The electric conduit which leads into the outlet box 1 is indicated at 6.

- At its outer end the outlet box 1 is formed, top and bottom, with opposed, projecting attachment ears 7 having tapped holes therethrough for reception of the screws which will ultimately hold the cover plate (not shown) in, connection with said box. The flat or face plateZ of the device likewise includes oppositely projecting ears 8; the latter-when the plate 2 is disposed in matching engagement with the outer end of the box 1registering With the ears 7.

Each ear 8 is fitted, centrally thereof, with an inwardly projecting, split, spring prong 9, and when the plate 2 is disposed in matching engagement with the outer end of the box 1 the prongs 9 extend in frictional holding relation through the holes in the ears 7. This effectively but manually removably supports the plate 2 in position on the box 1. A multiplicity of sharp teeth 10, disposed in spaced relation, project outwardly from the entire margin of the plate 2, including the ears 8; said. 'teeth 10 being formed so that their laterally inner face is substantially flush with the adjacent edge of the corresponding portion of plate 2 or ears 8.

With the above described device removably mounted on the outlet box 1 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the wall or ceiling panel 5 is disposed in the position that it will ultimately occupy when it is secured to the frame structure, except that the panel is spaced outwardly a short distance. In such position the related portion of the panel bears against the tips of the teeth 10, and thereafter by relatively forcefully urging the panel inwardly in the zone of the device said teeth perforate or indent the adjacent or inner face of the panel 5, as at P, and which perforations or indentations define a cutting pattern or outline C symmetrical to, but slightly larger than, the outer end of the outlet box 1.

Thereafter, when the panel 5 is withdrawn from the device the pattern or outline C serves as the guide by means of which the workman can cut an opening in said panel which will matchingly receive the projecting portion of said outlet box .1 when the panel 5 is secured to the wall structure in the predetermined position of said panel.

With the described marking device an opening-for the reception of the projecting portion of an outlet box d can be cut with greater facility and much more accurately than at present. After each marking operation the workman can readily remove the device from the outlet box 1 by merely grasping the plate on opposite sides and pulling directly outwardly.

Under certain circumstances the panel may not be disposed truly fiush to the marking device, either by reason of the outlet box being out of line on the stud, or the panel not exactly parallel to the frame structure. Under such circumstances the teeth of the marking device-- when the panel is urged inwardly-might not each have suflicient penetration to produce an effective perforation or indentation. To compensate for this I provide the modification shown in Fig. 4. Here the device is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2, including a face plate 11 having teeth '12 about the margin thereof, and inwardly projecting prongs 13.

V A backing plate 14 is disposed in spaced relation rearwardly of the face plate 11, and a cushion pad 15-of sponge rubber or the 1ike-is engaged between the plates 11 and 14; said plates, as well as the pad 15, matching the configuration of the face plate 11. 1

Thus, when the device is mounted on the outlet box 16,-in the same manner as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the backing plate 14 bears against and matches the outer end of said outlet box 16. However the cushion pad 15 permits the face plate 11, and the projecting teeth '12, to compensate for any angular misalignment of the panel 17, so that when said panel is urged toward the teeth 12 all may perforate or indent the adjacent panel face .to substantially the same depth, whereby a clear cutting pattern or outline is produced.

While the invention has here been described as formed and'adapted for use particularly on an in-place electrical outlet box 1, the device may also be used in connection with other types of frame-structure-supported service members with corresponding alteration in form.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as' will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

- While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim. 1

* Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent may be desired:

A cutting-pattern template for the open outer end of an electrical outlet box having opposed outwardly projecting relatively thin ears in the plane of said outer end and provided with holes therethrough; said template comprising an outwardly facing backing plate shaped to engage the outer end of the outlet box including the ears, a face plate substantially the same size and shape as the backing plate disposed adjacent but outwardly from said backing plate, cutting pattern marking elements on and projecting outwardly from the face plate and extending in a row around the periphery of the face plate, a cushion pad between the plates, and prongs secured in the face plate and slidably projecting through the ear holes in frictionally holding and removable relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 380,694 Pringle' Apr. 10, 1888 729,699 Test June 2, 1903 1,300,790 Tretch Apr. 15, 1919 1,510,718 Strong Oct. 7, 1924 1,675,787 Carr July 3, 1928 1,906,611 Johnson May 2, 1933 2,547,489 Priebe Apr. 3, 1951 2,698,487 'Schotsch Jan. 4, 1955 2,733,513 Gatineau Feb. 7, 1956 2,775,812 Mohr Jan. 1, 1957 a FOREIGN PATENTS 491,439 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1938 706,308 Great Britain Mar. 24,1954 

